Cybersecurity Living Lab: Opportunity to Develop and Test Innovative Solutions with Help of Students & Researchers

The Cyber Security Living Lab invites HSD partners to collaborate with students, lecturers and researchers on hands-on projects, internships and graduation assignments that directly contribute to strengthening the cyber resilience of organisations! The Cyber Security Living Lab (CSyLL) at The Hague University of Applied Sciences in Zoetermeer is a collaborative hub where companies, researchers, and students co-create practical cybersecurity solutions. They combine academic knowledge with hands-on innovation to help organisations strengthen their digital defenses.

Since the opening in 2024, MBO, HBO and university students have been working together in this lab. In the lab, new ideas, products, and services in cybersecurity can be developed, tested, and evaluated. Through innovative experiments and research, participants furthermore gain practical skills in effectively responding to cyber threats and managing risks. The aim of the lab is to support real-time learning, by connecting theoretical research to practical application in a real life work environment. In the lab, the students work with companies on real cybersecurity problems, guided by researchers and teachers. Working, learning, and research come together and form the heart of the Living Lab, and together, they co-create cybersecurity.

Opportunities for HSD partners

For HSD partners the lab is a perfect opportunity to collaborate with young talent and contribute to the development of newly gained knowledge and innovations in cybersecurity. HSD partners are given the opportunity to submit their current IT or cybersecurity challenges and work together with HBO-ICT students to develop concrete, demonstrable solutions within a single semester.

What they offer you:

• Security Operations Center (SOC) & SIEM Development
• Penetration Testing Environment
• Threat Intelligence Development
• Use Case Design & Implementation
• User Experience Testing & Cognitive Walkthroughs
• Focus Groups & Co-Creation Sessions
• Cyber War Games & Simulations
• Gamification & Serious Gaming
• Validation & Verification
• Task Analysis

Criteria:

• Have a specific IT or cybersecurity challenge for which students can develop their own solution, approaching the issue from an innovation perspective (in consultation with the client).

• Have a challenge that can be researched or developed within one semester.

• Aim for an outcome that results in something visible or demonstrable.

• Are open to collaboration with students, lecturers and researchers.

• Are willing to invest time in guidance and feedback moments.

Please note that it must be clear that these are real-world practical challenges!

Cyber Security Living Lab (CSyLL)

The Cyber Security Living Lab invites HSD partners to collaborate with students, lecturers and researchers on practice-oriented projects, internships and graduation assignments that contribute to strengthening the cyber resilience of organisations. The Cyber Security Living Lab offers students a unique opportunity to gain practical experience within real organisations.

HSD partners can contribute through:

• Internship and graduation assignments

• Collaboration with lecturers and professionals

• Group assignments / practical projects, such as:

  • Developing or improving security functions in software or systems

  • Testing and validating existing or new cybersecurity products

  • Simulating cyber threats through real-time scenarios

  • Setting up or improving a Security Operations Centre (SOC)

  • Analysing and visualising security data or incident response processes

  • Developing tooling or dashboards for cybersecurity monitoring

Partners do not necessarily have to propose a large project immediately. CSyLL is also open to short-term experiments.

How to get in touch with the lab for questions?

Are you interested in a collaboration, or do you have any further questions? Please contact Peter Roelofsma via p.h.m.p.roelofsma@hhs.nl.

Cybersecurity Living Lab is part of ‘IT Verband Zuid-Holland’ (ITVZH), an initiative of WE-IT Zuid-Holland (The Hague University of Applied Science), Dutch Innovation Factory, IT Campus Rotterdam, and Security Delta (HSD). Their multi-year programme focuses on enhancing IT education, training, and fostering collaboration between businesses and educators, ensuring a steady flow of skilled IT professionals for SMEs in the region.